System and method for selectively securing articles to a hull of a watercraft

ABSTRACT

A watercraft includes a hull having a sidewall, and a cavity formed in the sidewall. The cavity includes an open end. An anchor includes an insertion portion configured to be removably inserted into the cavity through the open end. The anchor further includes a movable retention element that removably retains the insertion portion of the anchor in the cavity when the insertion portion is inserted into the cavity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to watercraft, and more particularly relates to a system and method for selectively and removably attaching equipment, accessories, and other articles to a watercraft's hull.

BACKGROUND

People use watercraft such as kayaks and canoes for recreational activities, such as paddling and fishing. Modern versions of such watercraft often include hulls constructed of plastics or composite materials that are relatively strong, tough, and lightweight. When constructed of a plastic material such as polyethylene, the hulls of such watercraft can be formed using modern molding processes, including rotational molding. Such molding processes can yield a plastic hull having a relatively complex shape in a unitary piece. Some modern paddle watercraft include hulls having open cockpits in which occupants sit, while others include a hollow hull having a top surface or “deck” on which an occupant sits.

When using paddle watercraft for outdoor activities, persons often carry various articles and gear for their use and comfort. When a paddle watercraft is used for fishing, for example, fishing rods and other fishing gear must be positioned on or within the relatively small watercraft such that the gear does not interfere with operation of the vessel. In particular, fishing rods preferably should be positioned such that the rods do not interfere with a person's paddling motion. Some modern fishing kayaks and canoes include fishing rod holders that are screwed, bolted or otherwise substantially permanently attached to a portion of the watercraft for use in securing a fishing rod in a substantially upright position. Accordingly, such upright and unmanned fishing rods can be positioned such that the rods will not interfere with a person's paddling or other activities. Though such a fishing rod holder is useful in securing an unmanned fishing pole to a watercraft, the fishing rod holder is secured at a fixed position on the watercraft, and cannot be easily or readily relocated from one location to another. Accordingly, there is a need for an attachment system for selectively and removably securing a fishing rod holder to a watercraft's hull at any one of a plurality of fore and aft positions.

Modern paddle watercraft such as fishing kayaks and canoes also typically include one or more seats mounted within or on their hulls at an elevation that is at or slightly above the waterline. This low seat position permits a seated occupant's center of gravity to be as low as possible, thus maximizing the stability of the watercraft on the water. Though such seats may be vertically supported by a hull's bottom, the fore and aft position of a seat typically is secured by connecting the seat to the hull using a plurality of straps, bolts, or the like. Typically, such seats only can be installed at a finite number of locations on a hull, thereby restricting the number of available fore and aft seat positions within a watercraft. Accordingly, there is a need for an attachment system for removably securing a seat at substantially any fore or aft position within an open watercraft. In addition, there is a need for a seat attachment system that permits a seat to be easily installed in and removed from a watercraft such that the seat can be used as a beach chair, a camp chair, or the like.

Fishermen and paddlers also often have a need to secure other types of gear, accessories and other articles within a watercraft to prevent the items from falling overboard, tipping or sliding. For example, a conveniently located cup holder mounted to a watercraft's hull can be used to securely hold an open beverage container. A convenient securing system also would be desirable for retaining articles such as coolers, gear bags, tackle boxes, and the like within a watercraft. Preferably, such an attachment system would be sufficiently flexible to permit an article to be secured to a hull of a watercraft at substantially any desired fore or aft position. In addition, such an attachment system preferably would permit a person to quickly and simply secure substantially any type of article or device to a watercraft's hull, and to quickly and easily release such a secured article from the hull.

SUMMARY

The invention includes a watercraft comprising a hull having a sidewall. A cavity can be formed in the sidewall, and can include a substantially open end. The invention can further include an anchor having an insertion portion configured to be removably inserted into the cavity through the open end. The anchor also can include a retention element configured to removably retain the insertion portion in the cavity when the insertion portion is inserted into the cavity.

The invention also includes an apparatus for removably attaching an article to a hull of a watercraft. The apparatus can include a body portion, a retainer portion, and a connector portion attached to the body portion. The retainer portion can be resiliently connected to the body portion such that the retainer portion is capable of resilient deflection toward the body portion.

The invention further includes a system for selectively and removably attaching an article to a hull of a watercraft. The system can include a hull wall having a plurality of spaced cavities therein. In addition, the system can include at least one retainer member configured to be received in at least one of the spaced cavities. The retainer member can include a retention means for selectively blocking extraction of the retainer from the cavity when the retention means is received in the cavity.

The invention also includes a method for removably securing an article to a hull of a watercraft. The method can include providing at least one cavity in a portion of the hull. The method can further include attaching an anchor to the article that includes at least one selectively movable retention element. In addition, the method can include engaging the anchor in the cavity such that the retention element selectively prevents extraction of the anchor from the cavity.

These and other aspects of the invention will be understood from a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft having an attachment system according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the watercraft shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an inside perspective view of a sidewall of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is another inside perspective view of a sidewall of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an anchor use in the attachment system of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6A is a partial cross-section of a sidewall of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4 with the anchor of FIG. 5 being inserted into an open end of a sidewall cavity.

FIG. 6B is a partial cross-section of a sidewall of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4 with the anchor of FIG. 5 partially inserted into a sidewall cavity.

FIG. 6C is a partial cross-section of a sidewall of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4 with the anchor of FIG. 5 fully inserted into a sidewall cavity.

FIG. 7A is an elevation view of a long telescoping rod for use in the attachment system of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 7B is an elevation view of a short telescoping rod for use in the attachment system of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of one end of the telescoping rod shown in either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the open cockpit of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4 and showing two telescoping rods mounted between opposed sidewalls of the hull.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a platform removably mounted between opposed sidewalls of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fishing rod holder clamped to a telescoping rod mounted between opposed sidewalls of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a seat secured to the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 1-4 by two anchors like that shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12B is a front perspective view of the seat shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 is perspective view of a cup holder including an anchor like that shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a strap having an anchor like that shown in FIG. 5 secured to one end.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative cavity and anchor configuration.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an oar holder having an anchor like that shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pair of watercraft joined together by a pair of booms having a plurality of anchors like that shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an anchor clip for use in a system and method according to the invention.

FIG. 19 is an outboard perspective view of an adjustable foot brace assembly including a pair of anchor clips like that shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the foot brace assembly shown in FIG. 19 installed along a sidewall of a watercraft using an anchor clip like that shown in FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show one embodiment of a watercraft 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the watercraft 10 includes an elongated hull 16 having a bow 17, a stern 19, and a pair of opposed upstanding sidewalls 13, 14 defining a substantially open cockpit 11. The first sidewall 12 has a first upper edge 13, and the second sidewall 14 has a second upper edge 15. The hull 16 can be constructed in a single piece of molded plastic. Alternatively, the hull 16 can include two or more joined portions constructed of plastic or any other suitable material, such as a composite fiberglass material or the like. A seat 90 is positioned in a substantially aft portion of the open cockpit 11. A pair of foot braces 40 is mounted on opposed inboard surfaces of the sidewalls 12, 14 forward of the seat 90. In the embodiment shown, the foot braces 40 are slidably supported by rails 42 that permit an occupant to selectively adjust the fore and aft positions of the foot braces 40 along the rails 42. Such adjustable foot braces 40 can be of a type well known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spaced cavities 20 in the opposed sidewalls 12, 14. The cavities 20 can be located proximate to the upper edges 13, 15 of the sidewalls 12, 14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cavities 20 are spaced about 6 inches apart in a fore and aft direction, and extend along substantially the entire lengths of the opposed sidewalls 12, 14. The sidewalls 12, 14 can include more or fewer cavities 20 than are shown in the figures, and the cavities 20 can be formed closer together or farther apart than shown in the figures. Indeed, the watercraft 10 can include substantially any number of sidewall cavities 20. The cavities 20 can be formed along the sidewalls 12, 14, including by molding, machining, or the like. In a preferred arrangement, the cavities 20 are integrally molded in the sidewalls 12, 14. Alternatively, those portions of a sidewall 12, 14 that include a cavity 20 can be constructed separately, and attached to the sidewalls 12, 14 with an adhesive, one or more mechanical fasteners, or any other suitable attachment means.

As shown in FIG. 2, each cavity 20 along the first sidewall 12 can have a corresponding cavity 20 along the second sidewall 14 that is diametrically opposite from the corresponding other cavity 20. Alternatively, the positions of the cavities 20 along the second sidewall 14 can be staggered relative to the locations of the cavities 20 along the first sidewall 12.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of the sidewalls 12, 14 and the cavities 20 in the sidewalls. In this embodiment, the cavities 20 are elongated slots or pockets that extend substantially vertically downward from the upper edges 13, 15 of the sidewalls 12, 14. Also in this embodiment, each cavity 20 includes an open upper end 22, a forward edge 23, an aft edge 25, a back wall 29, and a substantially open inboard side or face 27. The cavities 20 can other configurations and orientations, as long as the cavities 20 are capable of removably receiving an anchor 50 as described below. In FIG. 3, a retainer bar 30 extends in a fore and aft direction, and extends across at least a portion of the open inboard side 27 of at least one cavity 20. The retainer 30 can be mounted to an inboard face of a sidewall 12, 14 by screws or other types of mechanical fastener, or by any other suitable mounting means. Preferably, each retainer bar 30 extends across at least a portion of the open inboard faces 27 of at least two or more successive cavities 20. As shown in FIG. 2, each retainer bar 30 can extend across two or more adjacent cavities 20. As shown in FIG. 4, for slots 20 located proximate to an adjustable foot brace assembly 40 having an elongated rail 42 mounted on a hull sidewall 12, 14, the rail 42 can extend across the open inboard side 27 of one or more cavities 20 in lieu of a retainer bar 30. Adjustable foot brace assemblies 40 having elongated rails 42 mounted on a hull sidewall are well known in the art.

FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of an anchor 50 for use in a mounting system according to the invention. The anchor 50 is configured to be securely and removably received in one of the sidewall cavities 20 described above. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the anchor 50 is a clip including an elongated body portion 52, an elongated retainer portion 54, and a connector portion 56. The body portion 52 and retainer portion 54 are connected together at a hinge portion 51 at their respective lower ends. Thus, in this embodiment, the body portion 52 and retainer portion 54 combine to form a substantially V-shaped member. Also in this embodiment, the connector portion 56 inwardly extends from an upper end of the elongated body portion 52, and includes at least one hole or opening 59 therein. The retainer portion 54 can include a ledge portion 55, an extended portion 53, and a lip 57 that combine to form a substantially C-shaped retainer recess 58. The anchor 50 can be constructed in a single piece of a tough and resilient material. For example, a one-piece anchor 50 can be constructed of an ABS plastic material (a combination of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene resins). Preferably, a selected plastic material is resistant to ultra-violet light. When the anchor 50 is constructed of a resilient material, the retainer portion 54 is capable of resilient deflection toward the body portion 52 about hinge portion 51. Alternatively, the anchor 50 can be constructed of anodized aluminum or another metal, or any other suitably tough and resilient material.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, the anchor 50 can be configured to be downwardly inserted through the open top end 21 of a sidewall cavity 20. In the embodiment shown, as the anchor is inserted into the cavity 20, the retainer recess 58 engages a portion of a bar 30 or rail 42 that extends across the open inboard side 27 of the cavity 20, thus securely retaining the anchor 50 within the cavity 20. As shown in FIG. 6A, the lower end of the anchor having the hinge portion 51 can be downwardly inserted through the open top end 21 of a sidewall cavity 20. As shown in FIG. 6B, as the anchor is further inserted past the bar 30 or rail 42 extending across the inboard face 27 of the cavity 20, the retainer portion 54 and body portion 52 of the anchor 50 are wedged towards each other by the bar or rail 30, 42 and the back wall 29 of the cavity 20. As shown in FIG. 6C, once the ledge portion 55 of anchor 50 is inserted past the lower edge of the bar 30 or rail 42, the resilient retainer portion 54 springs away from the body portion 52 such that the bar 30 or rail 42 is received in the retainer recess 58 of the anchor 50. In this position, the ledge portion 55 is positioned below the bar 30 or rail 42, and the lip 57 is positioned above the bar 30 or rail 42.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C, the lip 42 blocks further downward insertion of the anchor 50 into the cavity 20, and the ledge portion 55 blocks upward extraction of the anchor 50 from the cavity 20. In addition, fore and aft movement of the anchor 50 relative to the sidewalls 12, 14 is blocked by the fore and aft edges 23 and 25 of the cavity 20 (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, once the anchor 50 is fully inserted in a cavity 20 as shown in FIG. 6B, the connector portion 56 is positioned at an elevation that is proximate to the open top end 22 of the cavity 20. As shown in FIG. 6C, the connector portion 56 preferably extends at least some distance above the open top end 22 of the cavity 20. To remove an inserted anchor 50 from a cavity 20, the retainer portion 54 can be manually deflected toward the body portion 52, thus disengaging the ledge portion 55 from the bar or rail 30, 42, and thus permitting the anchor 50 to be vertically extracted from the cavity 20. For example, a person can push the lip 57 of the anchor 50 in an outboard direction toward the body portion 52 and away from the bar 30 or rail 42 with one hand until the ledge portion 55 disengages from the bar 30 or rail 42, and with the same hand or the other hand, grip and vertically extract the anchor 50 from the cavity 20.

As shown in FIGS. 7A-14, the anchors 50 can be attached to various accessories and articles to permit removable attachment of the accessories and articles to the hull of a watercraft 10. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, an anchor 50 like that described above can be attached to each end of a rod 60, 70. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the rods 60, 70 are telescoping rods that are adjustable in length. In FIG. 7A, a long telescoping rod 60 includes a tubular portion 62 having a first end 63 and a second end 65. An extendable portion 66 is slidably received in the second end 65, and includes a third end 69. A first anchor 50A is attached to the first end 63 of the tubular portion 62, and a second anchor 50B is attached to the third end of the first end 69 of the extendable portion 66. The overall length of the long rod 60 is adjustable by sliding movement of the extendable portion 66 within the tubular portion 65. As shown in FIG. 8, the first end 63 of the tubular portion 62 and the third end 69 of the extendable portion 66 can be substantially flat, and can be attached to the connector portion 56 of an anchor 50A, 50B by a bolt 3 and nut 5. Alternatively, the ends 63, 69 of the rod 60 can be attached to the connector portion 56 by any other suitable connecting means. The bolted or pivoting connection shown in FIG. 8 is desirable because the bolt 53 and nut 57 permit at least some relative rotational movement between the anchors 50C, 50D and the rod ends 73, 79. Such pivotal movement permits a rod 60 to be installed at an acute angle relative to a sidewall, as shown in FIG. 2, as well as permits rod 60 to be engaged, if desired to two cavities on the same side of the hull 16.

As shown in FIG. 7B, a short telescoping rod 70 is similarly constructed to the long telescoping rod 60 described above, but can have minimum and a maximum overall lengths that are shorter than the long telescoping rod 60. As shown in FIG. 7B, the short telescoping rod 70 includes a tubular portion 72 having a first end 73 and a second end 75. An extendable portion 76 is slidably received in the second end 75, and includes a third end 79. A third anchor 50C is attached to the first end 73 of the tubular portion 62, and a fourth anchor 50D is attached to the third end of the extendable portion 76. The overall length of the short rod 70 is adjustable due to sliding movement of the extendable portion 76 within the tubular portion 75. As shown in FIG. 8, the first end 73 of the tubular portion 72 and the third end 79 of the extendable portion 76 can be substantially flat, and each can be attached to the connector portion 56 of an anchor 50C, 50D by a bolt 53 and nut 57. Alternatively, the ends 73, 79 of the rod 70 can be attached to the connector portion 56 of the anchor 50 by other connecting means. As described above for the long rod 60, the bolted (as shown in this embodiment) connection permits desirable pivotal movement between the anchors 50C, 50D and the rod ends 73, 79.

As shown in FIG. 9, the telescoping rods 60, 70 can be mounted between opposed cavities 20 in opposed sidewalls 12, 14 of a watercraft 10, thus securely positioning the rods 60, 70 between the sidewalls 12, 14. To install the telescoping rods 60, 70 as shown in FIG. 9, the anchor 50 on each end of the rods 60, 70 can be inserted into an associated cavity 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C, and as described above. Once so inserted, the anchors 50 secure each end of each rod 60, 70 to an associated hull sidewall 12, 14. As shown in FIG. 9, the distance between opposed cavities 20 can vary along the length of the hull 16. In FIG. 9, the distance “D” is larger than the distance “d” because the width of the hull 16 and the distance between the opposed sidewalls 12, 14 and opposed cavities 20 is narrower near the hull's bow or stern. Accordingly, a short rod 70 can be positioned forward of a long rod 60 in order to adapt the rods' lengths to the hull configuration. In addition, because the rods 60, 70 can telescope in length, two long rods 70 or two short rods 70 might be adapted to fit in a parallel relationship like that shown in FIG. 9. In one embodiment, the short rod 70 is sized to be transversely installed across forward portions of a hull 16, and the long rod 60 is sized to be transversely installed across middle and aft portions of the hull 16. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a rod 60, 70 can be installed between opposed sidewalls 12, 14 such that the rod 60, 70 extends diagonally across a hull 16 when the anchors 50 are pivotally connected to the ends of the rods 60, 70, as described above. As described below, the rods 60, 70 can be used to mount various items to a watercraft 10.

FIG. 10 shows a platform 80 mounted between portions of opposed sidewalls 12, 14 of a watercraft 10 using a mounting system like that described above. For example, a platform 80 can be mounted atop one or more rods 60, 70 like those described above, and the anchors 50 attached to the ends of the rods 60, 70 can be inserted into cavities 20 in opposed sidewalls 12, 14 of the watercraft 10. As also shown in FIG. 10, items such as a fishing rod holder 90 can be mounted to such a platform 80 by securing the fishing rod holder's base 92 to the platform 80. Substantially any other desired item also can be attached to the platform 80 in a similar manner.

In an alternative arrangement shown in FIG. 11, a base 92 of a fishing rod holder 90 can be clamped to at least one rod 60, 70 that has been installed across a hull of a 20 watercraft 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 11, a clamp 94 can be attached to the base 92 using suitable fasteners 97 to firmly clamp the fishing rod holder 90 to the rod 60, 70.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a mounting system like that described above can be used to secure a seat 100 at a desired longitudinal position within a hull 16 of a watercraft 10. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, a seat 100 includes a tubular frame 102. In order to support and restrain the seat 100 in the hull 16, a first anchor 50E can be attached to one portion of the seat's frame 102, and securely engaged in a first cavity 20E along the first sidewall 12 of the watercraft 10. In addition, a second anchor 50F can be attached to a second portion of the seat's frame 102, and securely engaged in a second cavity 20F along the second sidewall 14 of the watercraft 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, each anchor 50E, 50F can be connected to the seat's frame 102 by an L-shaped bracket 101 by screws, bolts, or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12A, the frame 102 can rest upon and be vertically supported by the hull's bottom 17, and can be restrained against longitudinal movement within the hull 16 by the anchors 50E, 50F.

FIG. 13 shows a cup holder 300 attached to an anchor 50 like that described above. In the embodiment shown, the cup holder 300 includes a cup-shaped holder portion 302 and a bracket portion 305. The bracket portion can be connected to the connector portion 56 of an anchor 50 by a mechanical fastener 307, or the like. By engaging the anchor 50 in a conveniently located sidewall slot 20 of a watercraft 10 like that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cup holder 300 can be securely mounted on a hull sidewall 12, 14 of the watercraft, such that the cup holder 300 is available to retain a water bottle, soda can, or the like.

FIG. 14 shows a strap assembly 400 having an anchor 50 connected to a first end 404 of a strap 402. As shown in FIG. 14, a second end 406 of the strap 400 can include an attachment mechanism 408 such as a buckle, a snap, a clip, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like. The attachment mechanism 408 permits the second end 404 of the strap 400 to be connected to substantially any object or article. Alternatively, the second end 406 of the strap 400 can be tied to an object or article, or permanently connected to an article such as by sewing, one or more permanent fasteners, or the like. For example, the second end 406 of the strap 402 can be removably or permanently attached to a handle of a cooler, the handle of a fishing tackle box, the frame of a seat, or the like. With the second end 406 of the strap 402 connected to an object, the anchor 50 on the strap's first end 404 can be engaged in a sidewall slot 20, thus removably securing a connected object to a watercraft's hull. Similarly, an anchor can be connected to an elongated cord that can be tied, looped around, or otherwise connected to a secured item (not shown in the figures).

FIG. 16 shows an oar holder 500 having a clip portion 502, and an anchor 50 connected to the clip portion 502 by a post 504. The clip portion 502 forms a substantially U-shaped channel 506. When the anchor 50 is inserted into a mating cavity along a hull sidewall, the shaft of an oar can be inserted into channel 506 of the clip portion 502 such that the oar is removably retained along the hull sidewall. Preferably, the clip portion 502 is constructed of a resilient material, and the channel 506 is shaped and sized such that a substantially cylindrical shaft of an oar can be received within the channel 506 and securely gripped by the clip portion 502, and such that the oar can be easily selectively removed from the gripping clip portion 502.

FIG. 17 shows a pair of booms 602, 604 having a plurality of spaced anchors 50 attached along their lengths. A pair of spaced anchors 50 is connected to each boom 602, 604 proximate to each end of the booms 602, 604. As shown in FIG. 17, the anchors 50 on each end of each boom 602, 604 can be inserted into aligned cavities 20 in two adjacent watercraft hulls 12A, 12B, thereby connecting the two hulls 12A, 12B together in a side-by-side arrangement to form a catamaran. Similarly, such booms 602, 604 can be used to connect an outrigger or the like to a single watercraft hull 12 (not shown in the figures).

An alternative configuration for a sidewall cavity 120 and a mating anchor 150 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 15. Unlike the sidewall cavity 20 described above, in this embodiment, the cavity 120 formed in a hull sidewall 112 includes an inboard wall 127. The inboard wall 127 includes a step 130. When the anchor 150 is fully engaged in the cavity 120, a ledge portion 155 of the anchor 150 resiliently catches the step 130, thereby blocking extraction of the anchor 150 from the cavity 120. To remove the anchor 150 from the cavity 120, a retainer portion 154 of the anchor 150 can be deflected toward a body portion 152 of the anchor 150 such as pushing the lip 157 in an outboard direction, thereby disengaging the ledge portion 155 from the cavity's step 130, and permitting the anchor 150 to be vertically extracted from the open top end 128 of the cavity 120. A cavity 120 can be integrally formed in a unitary molded watercraft hull, or can be formed in any other manner, such as machining, or the like. Of course, a watercraft according to the invention can include many other configurations of cavities and mating clips that perform substantially the same retention function as described above.

Another embodiment of an anchor 250 for use with a watercraft 10 like that described above is shown in FIG. 18. In this embodiment, the anchor 250 includes a retainer portion 254 and a connector portion 256. As shown in FIG. 18, the retainer portion 254 can include a ledge portion 255 and a lip portion 257. As shown in FIG. 19, two or more anchors 250 can be attached to a rail 42 of an adjustable foot brace assembly 40. As shown in FIG. 20, the spaced anchors 250 can be inserted into mating hull sidewall cavities 20, and permit the foot brace rail 42 and foot brace assembly 40 to be selectively and securely mounted at a desired fore and aft location on a sidewall 13, 14 of a hull 16 of a watercraft 10.

The invention has been described in terms of selected embodiments having particular features. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes can be made to one or more features of the specifically described embodiments without departing from the invention. For example, though two specific mating anchor and cavity configurations have been described above, other alternative mating cavity and anchor configurations can be used. All such changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A watercraft comprising: (a) a hull having a first sidewall, the first sidewall having a first upper edge; (b) a first cavity formed in the first sidewall, the first cavity having a substantially open first end; and (c) a first anchor comprising: (i) a first insertion portion configured to be removably inserted into the first cavity through the first end; and (ii) a first retention element configured to removably retain the insertion portion in the first cavity when the first insertion portion is inserted into the first cavity.
 2. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the first cavity is proximate to the first upper edge.
 3. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the first cavity formed in the first sidewall includes a substantially open first inboard face, and further comprising a retaining member extending across at least a portion of the first inboard face.
 4. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the first retention element comprises a resilient catch that removably retains the first insertion portion in the first cavity when the first insertion portion is inserted in the first cavity.
 5. A watercraft according to claim 3 wherein the first retention element comprises a resilient catch that engages the retaining member and thereby removably retains the first insertion portion in the first cavity when the first insertion portion is inserted in the first cavity.
 6. A watercraft according to claim 1 and further comprising an article attached to the first anchor, wherein when the first insertion portion is received in the first cavity, the article is thereby removably connected to the first sidewall.
 7. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the hull further comprises a second sidewall having a second upper edge, and further comprising: (a) a second cavity formed in the second sidewall, the second cavity having a substantially open second end; and (c) a second anchor comprising: (i) a second insertion portion configured to be removably inserted into the second cavity through the substantially open second end; and (ii) a second retainer for removably retaining the second insertion portion in the second cavity when the second insertion portion is received in the second cavity.
 8. A watercraft according to claim 7, and further comprising an article attached to the first and second anchors, wherein when the first anchor is received in the first cavity and the second anchor is received in the second anchor, the article is supported between the first and second sidewalls.
 9. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the article comprises an extendable bar having a first end attached to the first anchor, and a second end attached to the second anchor.
 10. A watercraft according to claim 8 wherein the article comprises an item selected from the group comprising of a seat, a platform, a fishing rod holder, an oar holder, a cup holder, a boom, a strap, a foot brace, and a cord.
 11. A watercraft according to claim 7 wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are substantially directly opposite from each other in the hull.
 12. A watercraft according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of additional cavities formed in the first sidewall, each additional cavity having a substantially open end.
 13. An apparatus for removably attaching an article to a hull of a watercraft, the apparatus comprising a body portion, a retainer portion, and a connector portion attached to the body portion, wherein the retainer portion is resiliently connected to the body portion such that the retainer portion is capable of resilient deflection toward the body portion.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the retainer portion includes a catch.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the body portion and retainer portion are elongated members connected at their lower ends, and wherein the body portion and retainer portion form a substantially V-shaped portion
 16. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the connector portion is attached to an upper end of the body portion.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the body portion, retainer portion and connector portion are constructed in a single piece.
 18. A system for selectively and removably attaching an article to a hull of a watercraft, the system comprising; (a) a hull wall having a plurality of spaced cavities therein; and (b) at least one retainer member configured to be received in at least one of the spaced cavities, the retainer comprising retention means for selectively blocking extraction of the retainer from the cavity when the retention means is received in the cavity.
 19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the at least one spaced cavity includes a retention element, and wherein the retention means engages the retention element when the retainer is received in the cavity, thereby selectively blocking extraction of the retainer from the cavity when the retainer is received in the cavity.
 20. A system according to claim 18 wherein the retention element is a bar, and wherein the retention means is a member that resiliently engages the bar when the retainer is received in the cavity.
 21. A system according to claim 18 wherein the retainer comprises a one-piece clip, and wherein the retention means comprises a resilient portion of the clip that resiliently engages a mating portion the cavity.
 22. A method for removably securing an article to a hull of a watercraft, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one cavity in a portion of the hull; (b) attaching an anchor to the article, the anchor including at least one selectively movable retention element; (c) engaging the anchor in the cavity such that the retention element selectively prevents extraction of the anchor from the cavity.
 23. A method of claim 22 wherein the engagement of the anchor in the cavity occurs without substantial forward or aftward movement of the anchor relative to the hull.
 24. A method of claim 22 further comprising removing the anchor from the cavity by selectively moving the retention element.
 25. A method of claim 24 wherein the removal of the anchor from the cavity occurs without substantial forward or aftward movement of the anchor relative to the hull.
 26. A method of claim 22 wherein the article is pivotally connected to the anchor to permit the article to pivot in multiple directions when the anchor is engaged in the cavity. 